Bacalhau com Natas
An oven-baked dish consisting of layers of bacalhau (cod), onion, diced fried potato, cheese, and cream. A delicious recipe with the right amount of flavor in every bite.
There are many ways to make Bacalhau com Natas, but this is my favorite recipe. It is simple, yet delicious and full of flavor. If you are looking for a traditional Portuguese dish to impress your friends or family, look no further! This recipe is sure to please.
There is something said about simplicity. And it is true that sometimes the simplest things in life are the best. This dish is a perfect example of that. It is made with just a few ingredients, yet it packs a flavor punch that will leave your taste buds begging for more.
Unfortunately, for this recipe, the cod amount is not in weight but in pieces. You will need a piece of cod for each person, depending on their size. The good news is that this dish is very forgiving, so don’t worry if you add a few extra pieces of cod.
The most time-consuming part of this recipe is the potatoes. You will need to prep them before you start. I usually like to prep the potatoes a couple of hours before I start the cod. Simply because they take the longest.
Once the potatoes are prepped fried, it is time to start cooking.
How to desalt the cod
Desalting is a must, this step can not be missed and should be done ahead of time. The time required to remove the salt varies on the size of the portions:
- Cod Pieces: 24-48 hours (change the water every 6 hours)
When it comes to desalting codfish, first wash and clean the codpieces under cold running water. Then soak the fish and store it in the refrigerator. The skin of the codfish must be left on do not remove or clean anything, yet. Then change the water periodically until the desired salt point is reached.
Ingredients:
- 4 or more pieces of salted cod
- 3 small onions, peeled and sliced thinly into half-moon shapes
- 1 cup milk
- 4 tablespoons of olive oil
- 1 cup of cod water
- 2-3 cloves of garlic
- 1/2 pound of potatoes, peeled and diced into cubes
- 3 tablespoons of regular flour
- 3 tablespoons of unsalted butter
- 1/2 tablespoon of pepper
- 1-2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1 cup of heavy cream
- 3 tablespoons of all-purpose flour
- 3-4 drops of lemon
- nutmeg to taste
- salt and pepper to taste
Instuctions:
Step 1:
Begin by following the steps above on how to desalt your cod.
Step 2:
Butter a 3 qt oblong glass baking dish, set aside
Step 3:
Wash and peel potatoes, and cut them into small cubes. Fry until cooked and golden brown set aside.
Step 4:
In a large pot add water, bay leaves, garlic, and a couple of drops of lemon bring to a boil.
Step 5:
Add cod to boiling water and reduce the heat and simmer for 30 minutes.
Step 6:
Make sure to keep the water just below the boiling point to prevent the fish from falling apart.
Step 7:
Once cod is cooked remove it from the water and let cool until you are able to handle it with your hands
Step 8:
save a cup of cod water for white sauce disregard the rest, and the cup reserved is set aside.
Step 9:
Once the cod is cool remove bones and skin and pull the cod into small shreds.
Step 10:
Add cod and the potatoes together and mix well.
Step 11:
In a heavy skillet over low heat, sauté the onion in olive oil until soft and golden. Once done add to the cod and potato mixture. Set aside.
Step 12:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step 13:
prepare the white sauce. Melt the butter in a saucepan over moderate heat and blend in the flour, slowly add the cod water, milk, and cream, one at a time stirring constantly, until thickened. Add your spices and a couple of lemon drops.
Step 14:
Add the cod, potato, and onion mixture to the white sauce blending until everything is well coated.
Step 15:
Transfer to a baking dish and cover it with the shredded cheese. Bake uncovered for 15 – 20 minutes until cheese is melted and the top is golden brown.
Step 16:
Once done, remove it from the oven and let it cool for about 10 minutes, and then it is ready to serve
I hope you enjoy this recipe as much as I do! Let me know if you try it by leaving a comment below.
Happy Cooking!
-Lana 🙂
If you love dessert recipes check out my other recipes
- Roasted Red Pepper Frittata with Feta
- Bacalhau a bras
Nice post. I learn something totally new and challenging on blogs I stumbleupon every day.
It’s always helpful to read content from other authors and practice a little something from their web sites. https://www.waste-Ndc.pro/community/profile/tressa79906983/